IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 382 

Expressing the need to eliminate life without parole for children. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 27, 2015 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the need to eliminate life without parole for 

children. 

Whereas approximately 2,500 individuals in the United 

States have been sentenced to die in prison for crimes 

committed as children; 

Whereas the United States is the only country in the world 

that imposes life without the possibility of release or parole sentences on children; 

Whereas the United States, along with South Sudan, are the 

only United Nations Member States that have not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child which prohibits the use of the death penalty and life without the 

possibility of release sentences from being imposed on 

children under 18 years of age; 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 382 IH 

Whereas a life without the possibility of release or parole sentence is a final judgment that disregards children’s 

unique capacity to grow and change as they mature into 

adulthood; 

Whereas studies have shown that children’s brains are not 

fully developed and as a result, children are less capable 

than adults to consider the long-term impact of their actions, control their emotions and impulses, or evaluate 

risks and reward; 

Whereas fundamental differences between juvenile and adult 

brains make children uniquely capable of long-term 

growth, rehabilitation, and change as their brains mature 

over time; 

Whereas the vast majority of children who commit crimes age 

out of criminal behavior and no longer pose a threat to 

society in adulthood; 

Whereas the United States recognizes that children are different from adults by the limitations society places upon 

them; 

Whereas children are not allowed to enter into contracts, purchase or consume tobacco and alcohol, vote, serve in the 

military, or engage in other adult activities; 

Whereas the only area where the United States does not treat 

children different from adults is in criminal sentencing 

laws; 

Whereas children sentenced to life without the possibility of 

release or parole are most frequently the most vulnerable 

members of United States society; 

Whereas studies show that nearly 80 percent of juvenile lifers 

reported witnessing violence in their homes and more 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 382 IH 

than half (54.1 percent) witnessed weekly violence in 

their neighborhoods; 

Whereas in addition, 50 percent of all children sentenced to 

life in prison without the possibility of parole have been 

physically abused and 20 percent have been sexually 

abused as a child; 

Whereas Black children are 10 times more likely to receive 

a life without the possibility of release or parole sentence; 

Whereas 14 States including Texas, Nevada, Wyoming, Kentucky, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, Delaware, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and West 

Virginia have all eliminated life without the possibility of 

release or parole sentences for all children under 18 years 

of age in the last several years; 

Whereas 3 other States including California, Florida, and 

Washington have eliminated life without the possibility of 

release or parole for most children under 18 years of age 

in the last several years; 

Whereas the American Bar Association passed Resolution 

107C earlier this year calling on the Federal Government 

and all State governments to retroactively abolish life 

without parole sentences for children; 

Whereas the United Methodist Church and the Catholic 

Church have called for an end to life without the possibility of release or parole sentences for children; 

Whereas 10 years ago the United States Supreme Court in 

Roper v. Simmons struck down the death penalty for 

children under 18 years of age; 

Whereas 5 years ago the United States Supreme Court in 

Graham v. Florida struck down the use of life without 

the possibility of release or parole sentences for nonVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:52 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR382.IH HR382

srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 382 IH 

homicide crimes committed by children under 18 years of 

age; and 

Whereas 3 years ago the United States Supreme Court in 

Miller v. Alabama struck down the use of mandatory life 

without parole sentences and required sentencing bodies 

to consider the mitigating factors of youth anytime a 

child faces a potential life sentence: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) applauds and celebrates the anniversary of 

3 the decisions by the Roper, Graham, and Miller 

4 courts for striking down the death penalty and use 

5 of life without parole sentences for non-homicide of6 fenses and mandatory life without parole sentences 

7 for children in the United States; 

8 (2) applauds and celebrates the State of Texas, 

9 Nevada, Wyoming, Kentucky, Kansas, Colorado, 

10 Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, Delaware, Massachusetts, 

11 Vermont, Connecticut, West Virginia, California, 

12 Florida, and Washington for recent legislative 

13 changes that eliminated life without the possibility of 

14 release or parole sentences for children convicted of 

15 serious crimes in their jurisdictions; and 

16 (3) encourages other State legislatures to recog17 nize the differences between children and adult of18 fenders and eliminate extreme sentences, like life 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HRES 382 IH 

1 without parole, for children convicted of serious 

2 crimes. 

Æ 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS